Turret for carrying containers

ABSTRACT

A plastic turret for transporting bottles, the turret having two tiers, one being a bottom cylindrical tier and the other being a top cylindrical tier, the top tier being of a smaller diameter less than the base tier, and the top tier having a plurality of spaced apart recesses for positioning bottles, the recesses extending the entire height of the top tier and open at the top with the top surface of the bottom tier forming the support for the bottom of bottles positioned within the recesses.

United States Patent Geurtsen et a1.

[ June 26, 1973 TURRET FOR CARRYING CONTAINERS lnventors: Friedrich H. Geurtsen; Fred J.

Wochner,'both of Holliston, Mass Assignee: Dennison Manufacturing Company,

Farmingham, Mass.

Filed: Dec. 3, 1971 Appl. No.: 204,758

Related US. Application Data Division of Ser. No. 856,946, Sept. 11, 1969.

US. Cl. 198/209 Int. Cl. 865g 29/00 Field of Search 198/209- 9 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/1940 Hills 198/209 Wampach 198/209 White 198/209 Primary Examiner-Richard E. Aegerter Attorney-sewed] P. Bronstein, Donald Brown et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A plastic turret for transporting bottles, the turret having two tiers, one being a bottom cylindrical tier and the other being a top cylindrical tier, the top tier being of a smaller diameter less than the base tier, and the top tier having a plurality of spaced apart recesses for positioning bottles, the recesses extending the entire height of the top tier and open at the top with the top surface of the bottom tier forming the support for the bottom of. bottles positioned within the recesses.

11 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEU JUN 2 61975 same or 2 This invention is directed to a turret suitable for use in a container or bottle decorating system and is more particularly related to a molded turret and method of making said molded turret.

Over the years the assignee of this invention has developed a system for decorating containers with printed labels. The labels are applied from a web supporting the same and are transferred by applying pressure against the web to apply the label to the container from the web as the web passes in proximity to the container.

This type of system is shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,064,714 and 3,079,979, both issued to GA. Flood and assigned to the assignee of this invention.

As will be seen from [1.8. Pat. Nos. 3,064,714, the containers are presented at the decorating station by a combination of conveyor belts and a machined metal turret. The turret includes machined lower and upper metal plates cut out in the configuration of the container and there is further provided support means to hold the bottom of the container in order to position it in the turret (see FIGS. 1 and 5 of Pat. No;

Although, the turrets shown in the above mentioned Patents are quite acceptable, they are quite expensive and time consuming to machine. Depending on the shape of the container (i.e., round, oval, tapered, concave and recessed, or flat side), the cost of a machined turret can vary between one and two thousand dollars and take between a few days to weeks to construct. Since a different turret must be used for every different bottle or container shape, the expense of machined turrets does not economically permit the use of the above mentioned decorating schemes for small runs of containers and thus the decorating system has been generally limited to use in mass production facilities.

In addition, because of the accuracy of the machining required to fabricate the turret, supply of turrets has had to come from the factory and could not be easily fabricated on site by the user.

In view of the above, a new and improved turret was required not only to reduce costs but also to make it economically feasible for the decorating scheme of the assignee to be more fully utilized by small packagers. In addition, this invention provides for the first time, at the option of the packager the possibility of fabricating turrets for its own use when changes are made in bottle shapes.

In accordance with this invention, the above requirements have been met by providing a molded turret having a plurality of container retaining recesses formed in the outside surface thereof.

In addition, turret construction costs have been significantly reduced such that they are now in the order of one quarter to one half the cost of making a comparable machined turret. This has been made possible by using the container themselves as the means for forming the recess in the molded turret.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a new and improved turret.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a molded turret which is relatively inexpensive to construct and requires significantly less time to fabricate than prior art turrets. A further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved method of moulding a turret suitable for positioning a container at a decorating station.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation showing the fixture and scheme for molding the turret according to the inventions,

FIG. 2 is a side view of the container and means for supporting the container on the molding fixture,

FIG. 3 is a top view of the container locating plate of the molding fixture,

' FIG. 4 is a top view of the molding fixture outside the retaining wall,

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the turret after removal from the molding fixture,

FIG. 6 is a top view of the molded turret,

FIG. 7 is a side view of the molded turret,

FIG.'8 is broken off side view-of the turret, with bottles shown being carried by the turret, and

FIG. 9 diagrammatically shows the molded turret of this invention in a labeling machine.

Reference should now be made to FIGS. 1 7 for a description of the molded turret and the method of making the same. I

FIG. I shows a jig 20 of wood, metal, plastic or any other suitable material for supporting a cylindrical ring or member 21 thereon. The ring may be welded as shown, or fastened to-gether in any conventional manner or may be held together with a strap and locking arrangement. The ring may be metal, plastic or any other suitable material.

A shaft 22 is positioned through a hole (not shown) cut out from the jig. The shaft 22 is preferable the shaft ultimately used to position and rotate the turret when the turret is used in a decorating machine. If desired, a slot (not shown) may be cut in the top portion 20A of the jig to position the shaft. About the hole for the shaft there is provided a collar block 23, attached to the underside of portion 20A and having a bolt 24 for retaining the shaft 22 in position. If a slot is provided in portion 20A, the collar 23 is constructed such that it only surrounds a portion of the shaft 22. The shaft 22 is preferably provided with a keyway or flat so that the bolt 24 can retain it in place and prevent the shaft from rotating. Positioned on the top part of the shaft is a positioning plate 25 having a plurality of positioning slots 26 cut out therefrom. The number of slots, and the position will depend on the number of container carrying recesses to be formed in the molded turret. The plate 25 is provided with a collar 27 attached thereto and a set screw 28. In this manner the plate 25 is positioned as shown in FIG. 1.

In order to form the bottle or container supporting recesses in the molded turrets, extra ones of the containers, to be labeled, are used as the molding models.

The containers are shown at 29 and are preferably of the usual plastic type commonly used in packaging.

The bottles 29 are supported by the plate 25 by the provision of the usual bottle cap or top 30 through which a bolt or screw 31 is passed therethrough, from the inside of the cap. A nut 32 is provided so that the bottles 29 can be supported by the plate 25 in the slots 26 thereof as shown in FIG. 1.

After the fixture is set up as shown in FIG. 1, a sheet of material 33 such as metal (i.e., aluminum foil) or plastic (i.e., polyethylene) is provided as the bottom for the mold 21. The material is preferably inserted within the bottom confines of the mold 21 and shaped to act as the bottom portion of the mold 21. The material 33 can also be used as a flat sheet such that it extends beyond the confines of the cyclindric mold 21. Preferably, in this case, 'the material is wrapped about the outer bottom portion of the mold 21.

At this time, molding can now take place. Preferably before placing the molding composition into the mold, a molding release compound is used to coat the interior of the mold. Such molding release compounds are well known in the art and can be selected from among many silicone base release compounds presently being marketed.

The molding composition is now poured into the mold 21 about the container 29 and shaft 22. If desired the plate 25 can be provided with a plurality of openings or holes (not shown) for permitting the molding composition to be poured therethrough. As is well known in the art, there are many different types of molding materials possessing the properties requisite for this application. Among the molding compositions (i.e., plastics) useful in the molding of the turret of this invention are the epoxy or epoxide resins. Epoxy resins such as Diglycidyl ether of Bisphenol A (i.e., a resin portion based on epichlorohydrin/bisphenol A epoxy) and its homologs, Glycidyl ethers of Bisphenol F and Long Chain Bisphenol, and Epoxylated Novalaks, are suitable for the purpose of this invention. In addition, the molding composition preferably includes a curing agent such as aliphatic polyamines, cyclic alphatic amines, tertiary alphatic amines, aromatic amines, and organic dibasic and polybasic acid anhydrides, all of which are commonly used in molding composition. The molding composition may also include deluents such as phenyl glycidyl ether, butyl glycidyl ether, allye glycidyl ether and octylene oxide. In addition, filler materials such as metals (i.e., aluminum etc.) and plastics and other resins in chunk or particle form may be dispersed in the molding composition to enhance the machinability, toughness and hardness of the product made from the molding composition.

After the molding composition is poured into the mold, it is permitted to cure or harden. This can be accomplished rapidly by heating, as for example; by placing the apparatur shown in FIG. 1 in an oven. In the alternative, curing can be accomplished by permitting the molding composition to harden by standing over night.

After the molding composition has hardened, the hardened molding composition is removed by lifting it out of the mold 21. FIG. 5 shows the molding composition with the bottles 29 and the shaft 22 after removed from the mold. In order to finish the turret, the construction shown is placed in a turret lathe or other machine tool, and cut down by a tool until it is shaped as a turret 40 as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. The containers 29 used as the molding elements are also physically re- 7 moved after the turret is shaped to leave the exposed container recesses shown at 41, which are in the form of the containers to be carried by the turret, and which are positioned in and about the outer wall of the turret. As may be seen in FIG. 6, a key 45 is placed in the keyway provided in the shaft at 46, to insure that the shaft and the turret will rotate together.

Preferably as shown in FIGS. 6 8 there is provided a slot 42 in the turret 40. This is cut out, again by using a machine tool. The slot 42 is used in combination with a guide element, riding therein and shown in FIG. 11 to guide containers into the turret recesses 41. The turret recesses are preferably of a depth "d of about, or preferably slightly more than, one half the depth of the container to be carried therein. As will be seen, the recess also includes a bottom portion which provides means for supporting the bottom of the container to be carried therein. In addition, the recess 41 as shown in FIG. 7 is preferably cut out, such that the top of the container (generally a threaded portion) does not fit into the contour of the recess. This permits means to be inserted into the container to inflate it (assuming plastic bottles are used) duringthe decorating process.

Referring now to FIG. 9, there is diagramatically shown a decorating section using the turret 40 of this invention. The system includes chutes 60 and 61 for guiding containers to and away from the turret 40. Within the chutes are conveyor belts 62 and 63 for carrying the containers to and away from the turret 40. The decorating station is generally shown at 65 and includes a pressure applying means 66 which applys pres sure to a web 67 carrying a label decal to be applied to a container 68 positioned at the decorating station. As may be seen in FIG 11 the chute walls alsoinclude guide members 69a and 69b cooperating with the slot 42 of the turret, to guide the containers or bottles into the recesses 41. Preferably the members 69a and 69b ride against the slot surface such that they are guided thereby, and ,are positioned to accurately place the containers 68 into the recesses 41.

With the method and molded turret provided herein, it should be clear that an economical and time saving method has been provided for fabricating turrets. It will also be seen, with the turret of this invention, it is now economically feasable to use the decorating system described for labeling small runs of packages.

It will thus be seen, that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceeding description are efficently attained and that certain changes may be made in the above constructions without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

It is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It should be also understood that the following claims are intended to cover all the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention which as a matter of law which might be said to fall therebetween.

We claim:

1. A turret for transporting bottles or the like comprising a plastic turret having first and second cylindrical tiers, the first tier ofa smaller diameter than the second tier, a plurality of spaced apart bottle holding recesses formed in and about the outer wall of said first tier, said recesses each extending the full height of the outer wall of said first tier, the top of the'second tier forming a base for the bottom of the recesses and the top of the recesses being open, the second tier top also extending outwardly beyond the recess to provide a ledge to further support the bottom of the bottles positioned within the recesses.

2. A turret according to claim 1 in which a slot is providedabout the outer wall of said first tier for cooperating with means for guiding bottles out of said recesses, said slot being of a height below the top of the recess and above the bottom of the recess.

3. A turret according to claim 2 in which the depth of the slot from the outer wall of the first tier is less in the recesses than away from the recesses.

4. A turret according to claim 1 which includes a shaft embedded within the plastic portion of the turret and positioned along the axis of the plastic portion of the turret, said shaft extending outwardly therefrom so that the turret may be driven.

5. A turret according to claim 4 in which a key means is supported by said shaft and embedded in the plastic portion of the turret to insure that the shaft and turret will rotate together.

6. A turret according to claim 5 in which the molding resin has metallic material dispersed therein.

7. A turret according to claim 1 in which the plastic is a molding resin.

8. A turret for transporting bottles or the like, said turret comprising a first plastic material cylinder and a second plastic material cylinder positioned on top of said first cylinder and joined thereto, said second cylinder having a diameter less than the diameter of said first cylinder, a plurality of spaced apart recesses formed in the outer wall of said second cylinder and extending from the bottom of the outside wall to the top of the outside wall, each of said recesses being open at the top and bottom, the top of the first cylinder providing the base of each of said recesses and extending outwardly to provide support for bottles or the like positioned within the recesses.

9. A turret according to claim 8 in which a slot is provided about the outer wall of said second cylinder and positioned between the open bottom and open top of the recesses so as to provide means for guiding bottles or the like out of said recesses.

10. A turret according to claim 9 in which the depth of the slot varies, in which a shaft is embedded within the plastic portion of theturret and positioned along the axis of the turret for rotating the same, and in which the plastic is a molding resin which has metallic .material dispersed therein.

11. A turret according to claim 10 in which key means is supported by said shaft and embedded in the plastic turret. 

1. A turret for transporting bottles or the like comprising a plastic turret having first and second cylindrical tiers, the first tier of a smaller diameter than the second tier, a plurality of spaced apart bottle holding recesses formed in and about the outer wall of said first tier, said recesses each extending the full height of the outer wall of said first tier, the top of the second tier forming a base for the bottom of the recesses and the top of the recesses being open, the second tier top also extending outwardly beyond the recess to provide a ledge to further support the bottom of the bottles positioned within the recesses.
 2. A turret according to claim 1 in which a slot is provided about the outer wall of said first tier for cooperating with means for guiding bottles out of said recesses, said slot being of a height below the top of the recess and above the bottom of the recess.
 3. A turret according to claim 2 in which the depth of the slot from the outer wall of the first tier is less in the recesses than away from the recesses.
 4. A turret according to claim 1 which includes a shaft embedded within the plastic portion of the turret and positioned along the axis of the plastic portion of the turret, said shaft extending outwardly therefrom so that the turret may be driven.
 5. A turret according to claim 4 in which a key means is supported by said shaft and embedded in the plastic portion of the turret to insure that the shaft and turret will rotate together.
 6. A turret according to claim 5 in which the molding resin has metallic material dispersed therein.
 7. A turret according to claim 1 in which the plastic is a molding resin.
 8. A turret for transporting bottles or the like, said turret comprising a first plastic material cylinder and a second plastic material cylinder positioned on top of said first cylinder and joined therEto, said second cylinder having a diameter less than the diameter of said first cylinder, a plurality of spaced apart recesses formed in the outer wall of said second cylinder and extending from the bottom of the outside wall to the top of the outside wall, each of said recesses being open at the top and bottom, the top of the first cylinder providing the base of each of said recesses and extending outwardly to provide support for bottles or the like positioned within the recesses.
 9. A turret according to claim 8 in which a slot is provided about the outer wall of said second cylinder and positioned between the open bottom and open top of the recesses so as to provide means for guiding bottles or the like out of said recesses.
 10. A turret according to claim 9 in which the depth of the slot varies, in which a shaft is embedded within the plastic portion of the turret and positioned along the axis of the turret for rotating the same, and in which the plastic is a molding resin which has metallic material dispersed therein.
 11. A turret according to claim 10 in which key means is supported by said shaft and embedded in the plastic turret. 